Honoring their sacrifice: Monument erected to the fallen and the wounded
By Steve Herring
Published in News on November 30, 2017 7:11 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Post 657 Sylvania Wilkerson and North Carolina Commander Lenny Lazarra salute during the playing taps after unveiling of the Purple Heart Monument at the Wayne County Veterans Memorial Wednesday afternoon.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Commander of the North Carolina Military Order of the Purple Heart Lenny Lazarra speaks during the dedication ceremony Wednesday.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Commanders Wilkerson and Lazarra pull the off of the Purple Heart Monument.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Kris Brewer sings the national anthem as Rosewood High School JROTC presents the colors during the Purple Heart Monument Dedication Wednesday at the Wayne County Veterans Memorial.
Words cannot enhance the glory of those who have been wounded or who have died in service of their country, Brian Volk said.
Volk made his comments Wednesday afternoon before a crowd of nearly 75 people gathered at the Wayne County Veterans Memorial for the dedication of the new Military Order of the Purple Heart Monument.
The dedication has an extra-special meaning for the local chapter, as Wednesday was the anniversary it received its charter.
The Purple Heart decoration, established by George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit, is awarded to those who have been wounded or killed while serving with the U.S. military.
"We can best consecrate this occasion by rededicating ourselves, our words, our deeds and our lives to loyal, unselfish service, that the cause for which they died will ever live, that our great republic will ever remain the bulwark of liberty and freedom and the guarantor and protector of the democratic and American way of life," said Volk, a member of the local Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 657.
"I dedicate this memorial to the sacred memory of all of our nation's defenders and, with it, I dedicate the Military Order of the Purple Heart USA to continue to be the sacred tie binding the patriots of all of wars who offered their lives and have suffered for their country."
Volk said he was reading those comments on the behalf of the Military Order of the Purple Heart commander.
"In the name of the Eastern North Carolina Memorial Chapter 657, Department of North Carolina Military Order of the Purple Heart USA, I now dedicate this memorial in commemoration of the extraordinary fidelity and essential service of those fellow patriots who suffered and gave their lives to the cause of justice, liberty and freedom," he said.
Retired Army 1st Sgt. Sylvania Wilkerson Sr., Chapter 657 commander, and Lenny Lazarra, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of North Carolina, unveiled the monument as Volk gave the dedication.
The memorial is located in the northeast area of the park.
Volk thanked the Wayne County Veterans and Patriots Coalition and Chapter 657 for their efforts in making the monument a reality.
Volk presented a special award to Goldsboro Purple Heart Foundation Chairman Bill Graham.
"Bill is the mastermind behind this project as he is for most other veterans ventures here in North Carolina," Volk said. "I just could not see not having something special for him here today for his service and his effort for this memorial."
Wilkerson, who served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, was the keynote speaker.
He retired from the 5th Special Forces in 1975 after 22 years in the military.
Wilkerson also is judge advocate of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of North Carolina.
"We are, today, to give recognition to a special group of members of the armed forces," he said. "These are the members of the armed forces who have received the Purple Heart for wounds or who were killed in action by the enemy with an instrument of war."
The U.S. Constitution starts with three words, "We the people," Wilkerson said.
However, only the members of the armed forces are sworn to defend and protect the Constitution, he said.
"And that is what we are here about today, to give recognition to those people who go far and beyond their call of just being called a citizen," Wilkerson said.
Purple Heart recipients went off to war and when they came back home they did not talk to anyone, hardly even their families, about their service and being recipients of a Purple Heart, he said.
Wilkerson said he retired from the military in 1975, but did not join the Military Order of the Purple Heart until 2010.
"During that time, I didn't talk to anybody much about the war," he said.
Most Purple Heart recipients are quiet, he said.
As such, it is up to the citizens to do things like Wednesday's dedication to show their appreciation to them since they make up less than 1 percent of the country's population, Wilkerson said.
"So for the other 99 percent, this is your way of showing that we appreciate what these service people have done," he said. "And I am here to tell you that we hear you.
"When you pass a veteran and tell them, 'thank you for your service,' I can personally tell you that it is appreciated."
Monuments should, as the one being dedicated, also let veterans know that citizens realize the price veterans have paid for the country's freedom.
"So, that is what we are here today -- to unveil this monument so that all of these veterans and, especially the Purple Heart recipients who walk through this park, can see that we, the citizens, that we are all included in that 'We the people.'"
The Rosewood High School Jr. ROTC presented the colors, the bell toll and taps.
Marine Corps League chaplain Bill Boyd gave the benediction, and Luther Dawson, long-time member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, gave the invocation.
Coalition member Kris Brewer sang the national anthem.
Following the program the Purple Heart recipients gathered around the monument for group photos. Light refreshments were served at the Wayne County Museum following the program.